Lucknow: To ease traffic congestion in Aliganj from Hanuman Temple to Neera Hospital, public works department will begin widening the 250-metre stretch from this week.Officials said the road will be expanded to a width of 10 metres at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. The move is expected to bring significant relief to commuters who routinely face bottlenecks, especially during peak hours.PWD executive engineer, Satyendra Nath, said, “The project will also include construction of a proper drainage system alongside the widened road. The stretch has long been a traffic bottleneck and the widening, along with improved drainage, will help ensure smoother vehicular movement. To minimise disruption, construction will be carried out during night hours.”Around 70 shops and commercial establishments along the stretch are likely to be removed to facilitate the project.PWD engineers said they have already corresponded with the district administration regarding the removal of encroachments.However, it remains unclear whether clearance is complete, as a joint inspection is still pending.Commuters welcomed the move, saying it could reduce daily travel time and inconvenience.Anand Verma, a resident of Church Road, said he often gets stuck in traffic while crossing the stretch and is sometimes forced to take a longer route to reach Hazratganj.Sudha Shukla, a homemaker, said congestion near Dandiya Bazar frequently delays school commutes, making road widening necessary for smoother movement.
